Apparatus for teaching gunnery



1941- L. D. WEDDXNGTON 2,230,149

APPARATUS FOR TEACHING GUNNERY Filed Dec. 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 U U 113i /4 [1V VENTOR Y LEON/9RD D WEDD/NG 7'0/v B Jan. 28, 1941. L D. WEDDINGTON APPARATUS FOR TEACHING GUNNERY Filed Dec. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Film No Is Div a P flllowancq F r Film 11v VENTOR L EONARD D WEDDING TON A TTORNE Y5 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED s'rArr-zs PATENT OFFICE 2380,14! APPARATUS FOR TEACHING GUNNERY Leonard D. Weddington, Ala.

Application December 2 7 Claims.

My invention relates in) an improved apparatus for teaching gunnery, and more particularly to teaching aerial gunnery.

Heretofore only two methods of teaching aerial gunnery have been in common use; first by use of the so called gun camera, a device which the student aims as if it were a machin'etgun and snaps a picture 0! the moving target; second, by firing at a sleeve or other type of target towed by an airplane.- The gun camera has been found to be unsatisfactory as a gunnery training device because of the variables of speed of the target,

the angle of the shot, the change there would be in the actual trajectory of a projectile if one 5 were fired along the path indicated by the sights of the gun camera when on the target',and the angular position of the pursuing plane. Training by firing atptowed targets has been found to be unsatisfactory because of the danger of hitting the towing plane, the fact that only angular shots may be fired, and the complete lack of similarity between the target and an enemy airplane.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide training means foraerial gunners which comprises the use or moving pictures taken with a camera and showing the range of vision of a gunner, into which picture the gun sights intermittently appear, in hit position with respect to the target, and the provision of means so associated with the finished film that when it is flushed on a screen in view of a student gunner a 'record may be obtained of the number of hits he would have made had he fired at an actual target with the sights in the same position thereon as when he simulated firing during the showing oi the training film.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for training aerial gunners by means of moving pictures showing an airplane in flight with the gun sights of a pursuing plane superimposed on the film, said sights intermittently assuming a hit position with respect to the airplane being pursued, providing a manually operable means which a student gunner viewing the film operates when in his judgment the sights are in hit position, and a means to record whether the student made a hit or a miss on any particular shot, or on all shotscollectively, thus indicating his score. I

a recording means which will indicate toa gunhe: which type of shot is his weak point, namely, whetherhe misses more when firing at a moving 3 target trorn the side, top, rear, or other position,

Another object of my invention is to provide a, 1939, who No. 310,914

thus indicating to him which type of shot he should practice more.

Another object or my invention is to provide a recording apparatus which will indicate not only whether a single hit has been made on the 5 target, but also whether or not the gunner has fired a burst of shots, and if so how many shots he has fired during such burst.

. Another object of my invention is to provide a means to indicate whether or not a gunner has fired a burst at a particular target, that is, for a given hit. whether, the student fired a burst of shots both shortly before and shortly after the target has passed into hit relation with the sights.

Another object of my invention is to provide a training apparatus for aerial gunners which greatly reduces the amount of actual flying time required tor training and by means of which any number of students'may be instructed simultaneously.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple training apparatus which may be used in conjunction with'existing moving picture pro- Jectors with but slight change in their construction, and which may be used in theatres and auditoriums without having to specially equip them.

My invention iurther contemplates the novel construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in. the accompanying drawings Iorming a part of this application, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a moving picture projected on a screen and th general relation oi the Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views oi portions or the film. showing gun sights thereon, some of which are on the target in hit position;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of portions of the projector, score recording unit, .and the manually operable-switch, and wiring diagram of the same; v

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the score recording unit with the rear door open;

Fig. '1 is a view taken on the line VII-VII of Fi Gwith the door closed;

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing a modified form of score recording device; and

Fig. 9 is anelevation of the recording mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, I show a movim picture projector ll, having therein the usual film 5 a screen I3 upon which the picture is projected, and a plurality of seats l4 in which students to be trained are seated in position to view the moving picture.

In Figs. 3 and 41 show portions of the film l2. 5 On each frame of the picture is a representation 7 of the gun sights l0, comprised of the large and small ring sights 'and the front bead sight, such as are usually employed on the machine guns of combat airplanes. It is here to be noted that the representation of these sights may either be placed on the film by positioning the camera in the airplane equipped with such sights and taking a picture through the sights, or they may be placed on the film by other means. The only requirement relative to the representation of ,these sights on the film so far as my invention is concerned, is that they be in the position with respect to the moving target which most nearly approaches what a gunner actually sees when he looks through the sights on the airplane.

The film is provided at certain points along one side with slots l1. These slots are cut on the frame or frames of the picture representing a hit. It is to be noted that at the time a hit may be scored the target is not directly in the center of the sights except when the target is moving directly toward or away from the camera which took the picture and at very close range. The reason for this is that'to score a hit, the gunner must, in a split second, compensate for the speed of the target, and the drop or swerve of the projectile due to gravity or wind. If a machine gun is fired at a target 200 yards away and traveling at right angle to the line of the barrel of the gun at 200 miles per'hour, it is 'necessary for the gunner to lead the target by approximately 65 feet. The slots l1, therefore, to be opposite the frame or frames of the pictures representing a hit must be cut where the sights are aimed tocompensate for distance, speed of the target, and gravity. I g In addition, since machine guns are mounted on the airplane with the barrel slightly elevated, the slots must be cut opposite the picture showing the sights in position with respect to the target to make this compensation also. The function of these slots l1 will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Each student to be trained is provided with a small portable unit It comprising a box is,

having one side hinged to form a door 20. Projecting from the top of the unit II is a handle 22 which conforms to the upper or grip portion of an airplane control stick. The handle is provided with an electric switch 23, which is biased toward open position, and which corresponds to the machine gun trip on the airplane stick.

The unit It also contains the score recording mechanism, and in the embodiment shown ..in 60 Figs. 5', 6 and 7. it comprises two small electric motors 24 and 28. Each of the motors is provided with gear'trains 21 and 28, adapted to rotate hands 29 and II at relatively. slow speeds, preferably about one revolution every ten minutes. The hands carry on their outer ends pots 32 and 33 and inking points 34 and 34.

Remcvably fastened tothe door 20 by means of clips 31 is a card 38 marked Misses. .A 70 second card 39 marked Hits is similarly secured to the door 20, and both are in such position with respect to the inking points 84 and 38 that when the door is closed the point 34 bears against card 38 and the point II bears against '7 card 39 so that when the motors 24 and 2! are energized, circular marks will respective cards.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, the projector II' is provided with a photo-electric cell 4| and an exciter light 42, both of which units are so positioned with respect to the path of slots II on the moving film l2, that when these slots pass the exciter 42 a bean! of light therefrom shines through and excites the cell, making it conductive. A circuit 43 having therein a source of electric energy 44 leads from the cell 4| to an electro-magnet 48, so that whenever light strikes the cell magnet 48 is energized.

The magnet 46 is provided with a movable contact 41, spring biased in contact with a stationary contact 48, and a second stationary contact 49. A conductor II leads from contact 48 to one connection of motor 24, and a conductor 82 leads from contact "to one connection of motor 26, while a conductor i3 joins the other connection of the two motors. A conductor 54 leads from conductor 53 to one contact of switch 23. A conductor I6 leads from the other contact of switch 23, and a conductor 51 leads from movable contact 41 to one suitable source of electric current, not shown. It will be noted that whenever switch 23 is closed motor 24 will operate and make a mark on card 38 unless magnet 46 is energized, in which case motor 26 alone will turn whereupon card 39 will be marked;

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a modified form of score recording mechanism which requires only one motor to give both the hit and miss scores. As seen, it comprises a single motor 58 adapted to operate continuously during the showing of the film, and a card 59 adapted to be rotated be made on their through reduction gearing 6| at a speed of preferably about one revolution every ten minutes. The card is provided with a backing plate 62 also rotatable on the reduced speed shaft. An arm 03, pivoted at 64, carries an ink pot I and an inking point 41. An -electro-magnet I8 is adapted to rotate the arm OI about its pivot 64 whenever it is energized.

The means of energizing magnet 68 comprises the photo-electric cell 4la, exciter 42a, circuit 43a having therein a source of electric energy 44a, and an electro-magnet 480 provided with a movable contact 41a normally biased toward open position and a stationary contact 4911. A conductor I20 leads from stationary contact 490 to one side of magnet 88, and a'conductor leads from the other side of magnet 84 to one conductor H from a source of power. A conductor 51a leads from movable contact 41a. to the other conductor 12 from the source oftpower. From the foregoing it will be apparent that whenever lightpasses through slots II in the moving film l2, magnet 48a will be energized, movable contact 41a will be brought into contact with 49a, thus energizing magnet 68. When magnet 88 is energized it will rock arm I about its pivot 64 and cause inking point 01 to mark card I, and since card i! is continuously rotating, inking point OLwill indicate thereon the maximum possible score by marks as shown at 13. Fig. 9.

As a means to mark the card with the actual score made by the student, I provide a second arm 14, pivoted at 16, and carrying at one end an ink pot l1 and inking point 18. An electromagnet "I! is adapted to be energized by the closing of the manually operable switch 23. Whenever switch 23 is closed, inking point 18 marks score, are known,

known. And, since the continuously rotating card 5! as shown at I, Fig. 9, thus giving the actual score made by the student.

It will be noted that the arms 83 and II are placed in superimposed relation with respect to each other so that their respective inking points lie radially in line on the card. The reason for this construction is that a' comparisonof the possible and actual scores may be obtained by comparing the length and relative positions of the lines at any given point. The number, length and positions of slots II on the film which produce each of the marks at 13 of the possible and hence the type of shot represented by each of the marks at 13 is also the actual score of each shot as represented by marks 8| lies immediately adjacent the indication of the possible score, a true score for any'given shot canbe obtained by a simple comparison of the two sets of marks.

The operation of my improved device embodying the recording mechanism shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is as follows: Any desirednumber of students are seated in position to view the film. Each is provided with one of the units It which is plugged in to the connections ll, 52 and 56. The student holds the unit on his lap with his hand grasping the handle 22 and his finger on the switch 23. As the moving target appears on the screen he closes the switch 23 whenever in his judgment the sights l6 are in hit relation with respect to the target, If he closes the switch at the time when a "slot I1 is allowing light to pass therethrough, the thus marking card 39 and indicating 'a hit. If,

however, he closes the switch at any other time,

motor 24 will operate and mark card 38, this indicating a miss.

In order to allow the student to fire a burst of shots and not count against his score, hand 29 may be set back a predetermined number of divisions for the particular film being shown. To obtain the true score it is only necessary to subtract the reading of card 39 from that shown on card 38. Since the number of divisions, hand 3| would have to turn to indicate a perfect score is known, the relation of the true score to the perfect score may easily be found.

The operation of my improved device when using the modified score recording device shown in Figs. 8 and 9, so far as the students position with respect to the film and his closing the switch 23 when the sights are in hit position on the target are concerned, is scribed. However, the embodiment of the score recording mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has certain advantages over the one just described in that it requires only one motor, the actual and possible scores are indicated side by side, and in that the score for any particular shot maybe readily compared with the perfect score for that shot. I

when the film 12 starts runnlng'through the projector, motor 58 is to run until the projector is stopped. Every time a slot l1 passes by the photo-electric cell, magnet 68 is energized and card 59 is marked as indicated at 13, thus giving the maximum possible score. Every time the student closes switch 23, magnet 19 is energized. and card 59 is marked as indicated at M, regardless of whether or not a slot ll is opposite the photo-electric cell. Therefore, to get the true score it is only necessary to compare the length and relative positions of the two sets of marks. Furthermore,

ly to apparatus motor 26 will operate,

. projecting the film the same as above de.

ratus, comprising means to make also started and continues since the speed at which the film passes through the projector is known, and the speed at which card 59 is rotating is also known, the particular type of shot may be ascertained by referring back to the film at the known linear distance from its end. Thus the instructor may determine what type of shot a particular student misses most often, and he may be given special practice in that type of shot.

While I have described my invention throughout this specification as relating more 'particularof teaching gunners to shoot from an airplane at another while in flight, it will be apparent that it may be used with equal success in teaching anti-craft gunners, infantry machine gunners and others. 7

Also 1 have shown and described the film as being provided with slots to admit light to the photo-electric cell, but it will-be obvious to those skilled in this art that other means may be used, such for instance, as simply removing the emulsion on the film-at the desired points.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specificaly set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for training gunners, the combination with a cinematographic film including frames each of which bears an image of a target and aiming indicia, the target and aiming indicia being in-varied relative positions on the frames, a screen, and projection apparatus for on the screen, of a recording mechanism associated with the projection apparatus, and comprising means responsive to manual operation to make a record at selected intervals during the projection of the film adapted for comparison with the images on the film for identifying the particular image with which the record is related for the purposes described.

2. In apparatus for training gunners, the combination with a cinematographic frames each of which bears an image of a target and aiming indicla, the target and aiming indicia being in varied relative positions on the frames, a screen, and projection apparatus for projecting the film on the screen, of a recording mechanism associated with the projection appathe image of the aiming indicia is in selected relative positions with respect to the image of the target, and means responsive to manual operation to make a record adapted to be compared with the first of said records for identifying the particular image on said film with which the second of said records is related.

'3. Apparatus for teaching aerial gunnery comprising a cinematographic representation of an airplane in flight including frames with representations of gun sights as seen by a gunner outside the airplane superimposed thereon, which gun sights assume at intervals a hit position with respect to the airplane, means to project the representations on a screen, recording mechanism operating in synchronisrn with the projecting means and comprising means responsive to manual operation to make a record at selected with the film intervals adapted to be compared film including a record when energization, a second representations for identifying the particular representation on said film with which the record is related.

4. Apparatus for teaching aerial gunnery comprising cinematographic representations of an airplane in flight including frames with representations of gun sights as seen by a gunner outside the airplane superimposed thereon, which j gun sights assume at intervals a hit position with respect to the airplane, means to project the representations on a screen, recording mechanism coordinated with the projection means comprising means to record the times when the representations of the sights are in hit position withciated with the film to energize said circuit when a picture representing a hit is on'the screen, a recording mechanism operable responsive to said electric circuit, a second recording mechanism manually operable switch mechanism corresponding to a gun trigger in the second circuit for eiiecting operation of the second recording mechanism and make a record comparable with the first record adapted to determine whether the manual operation took place when a picture representing a hit was on the screen.

in said second circuit,

6. Apparatus for teaching gunnery comprising a cinematographic representation including frames showing a moving target and a representation of aiming. indicia in intermittent hit and miss relation with respect to the representation of the target, a screen, means to project the representation on the screen, means responsive to the aiming indicia being in hit relation to the target to make a record thereof, mechanism corresponding to a gun trigger, means responsive to manual operation oi. the trigger mechanism to make a second record in comparative relationship to the first adapted to determine if the manual operation took place when the aiming indicia was in hit relation.

7. Apparatus for teaching aerial gunnery com prising a moving picture projector, a film therein including frames depicting an image of a moving target and having an image of aiming indicia thereon in intermittent hit and miss relation with respect to the moving target, a screen upon which the picture is projected, an electric circuit, means associated with the film to energize the circuit when the target and aiming indicia are in hit relation on the screen, recording means in the circuit operable responsive to energizationof said. circuit, a second circuit, recording means in said second circuit, .switch mechanism con'espcnding to a gun trigger in said second circuit adapted when closed to operate its associated recording means to make a record in comparative relationship to the first and adapted to determine whether the switch was closed while the target and aiming indicia LEONARD 'D. WEDDINGTON.

were in hit relation. 

